Don't read to them, read with them.

Reading to kids is brilliant. It brings you closer together, they learn and laugh, you get cuddles and shared experiences to spark conversations that help them grow – ‘why do you think that character did that?’ ‘what do you think they’re feeling?’

As they grow into six, seven and eight year olds, reading to them is still great, but reading with them is so much more rewarding for both of you. With both my boys we’ve read series of books. I’ve read the How to Train Your Dragon books to both independently. The Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series to both (it’s a great series, not as scary as it sounds but probably for seven and upwards). My wife’s read The Boy at the Back of the Class to all of us on a road trip to Austria.

I call it reading with them because although 95% of the time, you’re the one doing the reading, working your way through a bigger book, or a series of books, is something you do with each other. You both find the time to read a bit more because you want to see how the story unfolds. One of life’s little pleasures is sharing that anticipation and excitement at seeing what comes next.

You don’t always have to read to them either. Over the last two years, on long car journey’s, we’ve been steadily making our way through the Harry Potter Audio books, read by Stephen Fry (a legend in his own right). In our house we have a rule, books are a staple, they get bought whenever someone wants one.

Buying them new would make this impossible, but buying them second hand means it isn’t. Abe books is incredible for that.

And if you’re not sure whether a book is suitable, try commonsensemedia.org.